--- title: "S. Kate Vaughan Chambers | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/s-kate-vaughan-chambers-15353" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-08-02" --- # S. Kate Vaughan Chambers U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington · Magistrate ## Profile - Court: U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington - State: Washington - Role: Magistrate - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-06-30 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - U.S. Magistrate Judge for the Western District of Washington, appointed in 2021 to a renewable eight‐year term - 2010–2021: Assistant U.S. Attorney, Criminal Division, Western District of Washington - Assistant United States Attorney, Criminal Division, District Court, W.D. Washington, 2010-2021 - 2007–2010: Associate, Commercial Litigation, Perkins Coie LLP, Seattle - 2004–2006: Law Clerk to Hon. Anne Ellington, Washington State Court of Appeals, Division I - Clerk to the Hon. Anne Ellington, Court of Appeals of Washington, Seattle, WA, 2004-2006 - Judge Vaughan has implemented procedural tools such as Individualized Trial Programs to streamline litigation, and encourages junior attorneys and Rule 9 interns to participate in court arguments ### Education - University of Washington School of Law:, Order of the Coif, Articles Editor, Washington Law Review, Moot Court Honor Board — J.D. (2004) ### Additional information - Magistrate, District Court, W.D. Washington, 2021-present - adj-prof, University of Washington-Seattle Campus, Seattle, WA, 2019-present - Co‐chair, Federal Magistrate Judge Association Civics and Outreach Committee (2025–) - Appointed: May 3, 2021, by the judges of the Western District of Washington - Founder & Chair, Western District of Washington Summer Externship Program (2021–) - Supervising Assistant U.S. Attorney, General Crimes Unit (2019–2021) - Recipient of multiple awards, including FBI Award of Excellence (2016) and U.S. Secret Service Recognition Award (2015) - with honors — University of Washington-Seattle Campus — 2004 - Case Manager, Pro Bono Training Director, Court Appointed Special Advocate Program, Boise, ID, 2000-2001 - Case Manager & Pro Bono Attorney Training Director, Court Appointed Special Advocate Program (2000–2001) - Economic Policy Advisor Representing the United Kingdom, International Monetary Fund and World Bank,, Washington, DC, 1996-1999 - Earlier roles: Economic policy advisor for the UK at the IMF and World Bank (1996–1999) - Special Advisor to the Chancellor of Exchequer, Her Majesty's Treasury, London, United Kingdom, 1994-1996 - Assistant Private Secretary to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, UK (1994–1996) - with first class honors — Durham University (United Kingdom) — 1993 - Office: U.S. Courthouse, 700 Stewart Street, Suite 1213, Seattle, WA 98101 ## Before you appear - Read the judge-specific standing order first when one is listed. - Check the docket and case orders for requirements that supersede broader guidance. - Confirm current remote-access and courtroom technology arrangements before the proceeding. ## Courtroom Rules ### photography recording Scope: statewide Washington GR 16 allows video recording, audio recording, and still photography by the news media in courtrooms only after the judge has expressly granted permission. Evidence excerpt: Video and audio recording and still photography by the news media are allowed in the courtroom during and between sessions, provided (1) that permission shall have first been expressly granted by the judge [Washington GR 16, Courtroom Photography and Recording by the News Media](https://www.courts.wa.gov/court_rules/pdf/GR/GA_GR_16_00_00.pdf) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### limitations on recording Scope: statewide If a Washington judge limits courtroom photography or recording, GR 16 requires particularized findings on the record and treats open access as presumed. Evidence excerpt: Open access is presumed; limitations on access must be supported by reasons found by the judge to be sufficiently compelling to outweigh that presumption [Washington GR 16, Courtroom Photography and Recording by the News Media](https://www.courts.wa.gov/court_rules/pdf/GR/GA_GR_16_00_00.pdf) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ## Sources - [Official profile](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/15353/s-kate-vaughan-chambers/) - [Official roster](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/15353/s-kate-vaughan-chambers/) - [U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington current judicial profile](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/15353/s-kate-vaughan-chambers/) - [Washington GR 16, Courtroom Photography and Recording by the News Media](https://www.courts.wa.gov/court_rules/pdf/GR/GA_GR_16_00_00.pdf) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/15353/s-kate-vaughan-chambers/) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/s-kate-vaughan-chambers-15353", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/s-kate-vaughan-chambers-15353", "name": "S. 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Kate Vaughan Chambers", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/s-kate-vaughan-chambers-15353" } ] } ] } ``` ## Published courtroom rules ### Shared court rules - [Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, December 1, 2025](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-651872d6e45e0d82319ecccc) — Civil actions in United States District Courts; Rule 81 exceptions apply. Section-specific exceptions, waivers, later amendments and case orders remain applicable. This is a source excerpt, not an exhaustive statement of the rule. [Official source](https://www.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/federal-rules-of-civil-procedure.pdf). Collected 2026-10-27. - [Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, December 1, 2025](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-8721a344fececced2257fe1d) — Criminal proceedings in United States District Courts; this conservative mapping does not distribute appellate-specific provisions to appellate judges. Section-specific exceptions, waivers, later amendments and case orders remain applicable. This is a source excerpt, not an exhaustive statement of the rule. [Official source](https://www.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/federal-rules-of-criminal-procedure.pdf). Collected 2026-10-27.